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A father-of-three who had been a regular cannabis user for more than 30 years was found dead in Exeter after suffering from a severe mental health breakdown.

Paul Hughes, 50, had been staying at his cousin’s flat in St David’s Hill, Exeter, when he tragically "dived" to his death on July 1, 2018 at around 5.30pm.

An inquest at Exeter’s County Hall today heard Mr Hughes had no previous history of mental health history and had been looking forward to renting out his home in Exeter and travelling with his wife who he had remained good friends with despite being separated.

Three months before his death he had relocated from Exeter to Cornwall where his wife lived and it was there his mental health declined before his death.

On June 29, 2018, he was arrested in Cornwall after breaking into a home in Penzance. He claimed he had been given the house by man he had met and was going to live there.

Police at the scene of the incident (Image: Alex Richards)

Mr Hughes, a Buddhist, was released without charge the following day from Camborne Police Station where he was assessed by a senior mental health practitioner. It was concluded there was no evidence he had signs of any mental disorder.

Paul Wright, who assessed him, told the inquest: “He presented as very warm and friendly in manner, and was very engaging. He denied any mental health problem. He explored the fact something clearly had gone very badly wrong over the past 24 hours.

“He described his behaviour as bad, but did not find it reflective of any mental health disorder.”

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Mr Wright said although he had not been aware of his previous concerning behaviour prior to his arrest, he said it would not have made a difference to the outcome of the assessment which ended with Mr Hughes declining any follow-up services other than agreeing to see his GP after the weekend.

Mr Hughes mother Pauline Leach recalled how he had started smoking cannabis from the age of 18, but she had never known him to suffer from any mental health problems.

She said in a statement: “He was always a very happy person, practical, intelligent and always reliable.”

Describing his cannabis use she said: “He probably had cannabis every day. He went through periods when he would cut down, but it never seemed to last.”

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It was also echoed by his wife Mrs Hughes who told they had been married for 30 years, and had three children.

She said his cannabis use was one of the main reasons they had separated two and half years before his death, and he took it more when they had split.

Mrs Hughes said: “We were still close friends and enjoyed each other’s company. He was staying with me in Cornwall and travelled to Exeter regularly to do work to the house to rent out and go travelling.

St Davids Hill in Exeter has been closed by police (Image: Alex Richards)

She continued: “In the couple of weeks before his death his behaviour became increasing erratic and bizarre.”

She added: “His children were the centre of his world. I can’t believe Paul intended to harm himself in anyway. It appears he was in midst of some kind of breakdown.

“I feel he was let down by services. There was opportunity to intervene in his rapid decline in mental health.”

Following his release from police custody, Mr Hughes agreed to stay with his cousin Marvin Jillians in Exeter.

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He told in a statement how Mr Hughes arrived at his home in the early hours of July 1 and had seemed like he was on ecstasy, and that his behaviour was erratic and he didn’t believe he slept that night.

He recalled: “I knew he smoked weed but he pulled out crystal stuff and started smoking it in his pipe.”

The following morning they went to The Imperial in Exeter for breakfast before returning back to Mr Hughes flat.

He recalled how his behaviour that day continued to be worrying such as saying demons were coming and kept looking out the window.

Recounting his final moments, Mr Jillians said Mr Hughes undressed to his boxer shorts and neatly folded his clothes and had smoked another pipe of ‘crystal stuff’.

“The next thing he climbed onto the open deluxe window and just dived out of it. He said something to me but I did not really hear it. I instantaneously thought he was dead.”

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A neighbour also witnessed the fall when he was looking out of his bathroom window.

Christian Payne said: “As far as I could see the male climbed out of the window. It was a deliberate act by him.”

The cause of Mr Hughes death was multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height. Dr Sarah Saunders, a consultant histopathologist, said he would have died instantaneously.

A toxicology report showed he had not been under the influence alcohol, but had consumed cannabis prior to his death. A therapeutic dosage of non-prescribed anti-depressants was also detected.

Dr Saunders discussed how long term heavy use of cannabis use can increase risk of psychosis, but said she was unable to confirm whether taking cannabis had contributed to his death.

She said: “It’s difficult to ascertain if cannabis caused it or it was exacerbated by it. It’s very much a chicken and egg scenario.”

She concluded: “I cannot be confident cannabis was a factor for him jumping out of the window.”

Recording a narrative conclusion coroner Philip Spinney said: “Mr Hughes died climbing out of a window in St David’s Hill, Exeter. His intentions in doing so are unclear. At the time he was suffering from a severe mental health problem.”

He concluded: “He died as a consequence of his own actions.”

If you need confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details